Timing mechanism



' Oct. 16, 1945.-

H. E. soMEs TIMING MECHANISM 1 Filed Feb. 17, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOk jfowar'dfi' Sornes ATTORNEY Oct. 16, 1945." E. SOMES ,38

I TIMING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 1'7, 1943 3 Sheetis-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HowardE.,-$0n2e5 ATTORNEY Oct. 16, 1945. E so s 2,387,097

TIMING MECHANISM I JNVENTOR Howardfi'. 5027265 ATTORNEY Filed Feb. 17, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r Patented Oct. 16, 1945 TIMING' MECHANISM Howard E. Somes, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Budd Induction Heating, 1110., Philadelphia, Pa.,

g a corporation of Michigan ApplicationFebruary 17, 1943, Serial No. 4765229 c 6 Claims. (01. 74-568) This invention relates to timing mechanisms and'more particularly to a mechanismifor com' trolling and-timing the successive operations of a machine through a plurality of; such control devicesas, for'example, electric switches and causing-their operation in a predetermined sequence. Sucha mechanism is .used in controlling-the sequenceof. operations in'many different types of machinessuch, for example, as that shown in my Patent-:No. 2,281,297, April 28, 1942, for heat treatingarticleslby electromagnetic induction heating andquenching;

,In-suclrra machine a given: sequence and timing ofiithe Various operations is employed for a given typeof work, but it will be apparent that a different type of workpiece requires adiiferentsequence or timing, or both. Therefore,a difierent setvof controls is required in order to adapt the machineoperation to the-.difierent work, and an object of the presentinvention is-to provide an improved timingmechanism of this type constructedandarranged to permit easy and quick adaptation .of a given machinetoany predetermined set; ofoperations, and the easy changing thereof from one sequence ortiming-to another.

A furthergobject isto provide a timing mechanism for: controlling the operation -.of. a1machine constructed and-arrangedto be readily and;e'asf-.-" ily removable to permit quick. substituticnzofta. difierent mechanism in order tochange the tim-.- ing ofrthe machine operations in; accordance. with,- -for example, a-change in the'work-piece.

A further object is to provideatimingmecha nism of improved construction and'arrangement for controlling. the-operationof arpluralityof such.

devices as electric switches or-therlike.

These andzother objects whichwill be apparentto those skilled in the art are obtained bythepresent invention, one embodiment of which isv shown in the accompanying drawings-in which:

Fig; i ls-aside elevation partly in vertical section of'a timing-gmechanism.constructedin accordance' with one embodiment of this invention;

Fig.- 2,is a top. plan view of the'device shownin Fig.1 with'parts.thereofloroken away for fuller.

illustration. I

Fig, 3 isaside elevation of the right-handend of themachine showninFig.v 1, and U H H Fig. 4 is a transverse .section -.thereof substan tially on the line l-4 of Fig. 1. g I

In the present. invention, a :rotarycylindrical drum isprovided with a plurality. of 'cam' rings. or the;like-foroperating aplural-ity o feassociated. switches. in predetermined sequence and timing-- for thefpurposaof controlling andtiming the variousoperations of an associated machine in any predetermined manner. The switches are mounted on aframeadjacent the drum and an actuator for each switch is secured-on the drum surface in' position to engage and actuate the switch at theproper time upon rotation of the drum, the different actuators for the different switches being secured to the drum surface in proper relative positions to operate the Various switches in the desired sequence. The drum surface is formed by a plurality of annular members which abut each other'andare so constructed and arranged as to provide a support for acam ring actuator adjacent eachswitch. Clamping means isprovided'for-securing such a ring in place and the clamping mechan'ism'is so formed that it can beshiftedcircumferentially-'of the drum so that.

nection with a housing I [having a top- 12 pro- 4 vided witha longitudinal'rowof plungers or cam followers l3 mounted in openings extending through the topand'having rollersl-t in the lower ends thereof and flanges ii at the upper end to prevent'the cam followers falling through the openings. The flanges l5 are non-circular and are positioned in a non-circular recess 2B formed in'the housing top l2. -A switch supporting bar It is mounted on-the top of the housing and has a longitudin'al series of openings ll coinciding with the openingsin which thecam followers iii are -mounted. -A--plurality 0f actuable devices such 'for example, as electric switches l8 having switch actuating members l9 positioned in the openings H are mounted on top of the switch supporting bar l'fiand areenclosed within a top enclosure 2|. The actuating member f each switch is spring pressed downwardly by a coil spring '2 2v interposed between the actuating memher: 19 and the body of :theswitchand a coil spring..23. is interposed between eachswitch actuator and the'associated cam follower 13 so that the latter is pressed downwardly thereby.

,A sequence controlling andtiming drum 2% is rotatably mounted-one, supporting shaft: 25

movable by a backing screw through roller bearings 21, one at each end of the drum. Each bearing race is held in place by a nut 28 and closed within an oil seal 29 which is clamped to the end of the drum and engages the supporting shaft at the outside of each roller bearing.

Each end of the, supporting shaft 26 has an eccentric collar 3| secured thereto and a crankarm 32 is securedto a collar 3| at one end of the shaft, the crank-arm having a spring pressed pin or detent 33 for yieldingly-holding the crank in one position. The eccentric collars 3| are adapted to be mounted in bearing slots 34, see Figs. 2 and 3, and to be retained therein by bracket members 35 having flanges 35 adapted to be bolted to the end walls of the to secure the collars 3! in place.

It will be apparent that rotation of the shaft housing I by means of the crank 32 will raise and lower the timing drum 25- into-andout of operative switch actuating position shown in Fig. 1. Moving the crank-arm 90 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 1 will obviously lower the drum 25 away from the cam followers Hi, to permit ready removal of the drum and its substitution by another after first removing the securing blocks 35.

The drum surface and the locking means for supporting and fastening the various switch actuating cams in place is preferably formed by a plurality of annuli surrounding the drum proper and clamped between suitable end pieces. As illustrated, see Fig. 1, an end ring 4| engages an annular shoulder 42, formed in the end of the drum face. The ring has a periphery formed to provide a braking face 43 against which a spring pressed pin 44 is pressed to provide a drag for eliminating back-lash from the gear train employed to rotate the drum. The pin 44 is yieldingly pressed against the face 43 by a spring 45 positioned in the end opening of the switch bar Hi, the spring seating against a block 46 which is V 47 to vary thepressure of the spring 45. e

A plurality of spacer rings 5| and cam supporting rings 52 are alternately arranged on the drum surface to provide a series of recesses 53 for loosely receiving clamping rings 54 which are thus positioned adjacent cam receiving slots 55 extending circumferentially around the outer faceof each cam supporting ring 52.

cam element 55 has an inner ledge seat in the recess 55 of the supporting cam support 52 and a flange 58 which overlies the adjacent slct 53. It will be apparent that threaded clamping bolts 59 extending through the clamping flange 58 of each cam ring and threaded into Each arcuate the associated clamping ring 54 served to clamp.

the arcuate cam element 56 in place, and that the relative position of each cam onthe supportingdrum can be easily adjusted circumferentially inasmuch as the rings 54 are loosely mounted in the recesses 53. If the clamping pressure of the bolts 59 is relieved, the cam element and clamping ring can beadjusted circumferentially upon the drumto properly locate the arcuate cam element 59 to secure the parts in such position. A longitudinally extending key 65 keys the spacer rings 5| andcam supporting rings 52 to the drum.

The spacer and cam supporting rings are secured in place by the end: cam supporting ring 6| being threaded to the end of the drum, see Fig- 1.

Any suitable driving meanszcan be employed timing mechanism at theprop'er l for rotating the speed for operating the switches l8 in the de- 51 adapted to 55, thereupon tightening the bolt. 7

- cover I5 secured in place place on said supports.

sired timing and sequence. That illustrated comprises an electric motor 62 connected through a speed reducer 63 to a gear train comprising a change-speed gear 54 on the end of the shaft 65 connected directly to the speed reducer, and a second change-speed gear 66 on a countershaft 5 having a fixed gear liameshing with the drivin gear-69 in the form of a'gear ring bolted to the endring 4| on the drum. It will'be apparent that this arrangement locates the two change-speed gears 65 and 66 in an accessible location on the outside of the housing It to permit ready access thereto for the purpose of changing the gears 64and 56 to vary the speed of the drum in accordance with any predetermined requirements. The change-speed gears 64 and 66 'are normally enclosed by a cover 7| bolted in place and easily removable by bolts 12.

Assuming that it is desired to remove a timing drum which is in use and supported in operative position as shown in Fig. 1, and replace it with another drum having 'a difierent arrangement of cam elements 55 for operating the switches IS in adifierent timing, or even a different sequence, due to a change in the workpiece being treated by an associated machine, the crank32 is rotated degrees by pullingtoward the operator from the position shown in Fig. 1; This rotates the shaft 26 and eccentric collars 3| in the support-' ing side frames so astolower the drum 25 sufiiciently to drop the cam elements 56 out of operative engagement with the cam followers. I3. Thereupon, after firstremoving the brackets 35, the shaft 26 and supported drum can be easily and readily withdrawn from the device and a secthe drumin inoperative or lower position. After the clamping brackets 35 are replaced, the drum can be moved into operative position merely by rotating the crank 32 to the Vertical position shown in Fig. 1 in which it is yieldingly held by the spring detent pin 33.

The cover 2| enclosing the switches I8 is secured in place my any suitable means such as the threaded bolts 15 so that the same can be easily removed to give access to the switches 8. A front threaded bolts 11, or the like, is normally employed to cover the face of the drum along the side of the housing Although I have described in detail one specific embodiment of the present invention it will be apparent that the-invention is not limited in any way to such details, but can be variously modified and adapted within the scope of the appended claims.

Whatisclaimed is: I I 1. A timing mechanism comprising a plurality of control devices, an actuator for operating said devices in a predetermined manne 'including a rotary member and a plurality of separable an- V nuli mounted on said rotary member andcooperating to form a series of supports for a plurality of cam elements, clamping rings held in place by said annuli, clamping rings to secure 2. A timing mechanism comprising a plurality of controlling devices, an actuator for operating said devices in a predetermined manner including a rotary drum, a plurality of supporting rings mounted on said drum, spacer rings interposedbetween said supporting rings and forming thereby such means as and means cooperating with said' said cam elements in with circumferential recesses, a clamping ring in each of said recesses, a cam element for actuating one of said control devices circumferentially adjustable on each supporting ring, means on said clamping rings for securing said cam elements in predetermined circumferential position, and

means for securing said supporting and spacer rings on said drum. 1

3. A rotary element for timing mechanisms, comprising a rotary member, a plurality of annular rings mounted on said member against rotation relative thereto, each ring having a circumferential flange spaced from a corresponding flange of an adjacent ring an an annular marginal flange facing and axially spaced from the corresponding annular flange of the adjacent ring, a clamping ring disposed between said circumferential flanges and being shiftable transversely of the axis thereof into engagement with an arcuate portion of said annular flanges, an arcuate cam element seating against the peripheral surfaces of said annular flanges, and screw means extending through said cam element and between said annular flanges and threaded into said clamping ring for clamping said cam element against said annular flanges.

4. A rotary element for timing mechanisms, comprising a rotary member, a plurality of annular rings mounted on said member against rotation relative thereto, each ring having a circumferential flange spaced from a corresponding flange of an adjacent ring and an annular marginal flange facing and axially spaced from the corresponding annular flange of the adjacent ring, a clamping ring disposed between said circumferential flanges and being shiftable transversely of the axis thereof into engagement with an arcuate portion of said annular flanges, an arcuate cam element seating against the peripheral surfaces of said annular flanges, and screw means extending through said cam element and between said annular flanges and threaded into said clamping ring for clamping said cam element against said annular flanges, said cam element and clamping ring upon loosening of said screw means being circumferentially shiftable relative to said rotary member.

5. A rotary cam member for timing mechanisms comprising a rotary support having a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferential recesses therein, the opposite walls of each recess having annular flanges at their radially outer peripheries longitudinally spaced from each other, a clamping ring disposed in each recess and being shiftable, transversely of the axis thereof, arcuate cam elements seated against the flanges of said recesses, and screw means extending through said cam elements and between said flanges and threaded into said clamping rings, said screw means being arrangedupon threading into said clamping rings to clamp said clamping rings and cam element securely against said flanges.

6. A rotary timing device comprising a rotary support having an annular recess and an arcuate axially projecting flange located outwardly of the recess, a clamp ring element disposed in and having circumferential adjustment in said recess within said flange, an arcuate cam element disposed outside of and circumferentially adjustable on said flange, and means for clamping said clamp ring element and said cam element together upon said flange in any circumferentially adjusted position.

HOWARD E. SOMES. 

